Proposed
Improvements

The Route 72 Manahawkin
Bay Bridges Project involves
the construction of a new
structure parallel to and
south of the existing Manahawkin
Bay Bridge, rehabilitation
of the existing Manahawkin
Bay Bridge, and the
rehabilitation of three
trestle bridges over
Hilliards Thorofare,
East Thorofare, and
West Thorofare. Other
planned improvements
include:

A six-foot
sidewalk on
the westbound (north)
side of Route 72,
with connections
to communities
and points of interest
on the south side
of the roadway;

Bicycle
accommodations,
including wider
outside shoulders
on the twin Manahawkin
Bay Bridges and
six-foot bike
lanes on the trestle
bridges;

This
aerial view is of
the
existing trestle
bridges over
West
and East Thorofares.

Improvements to the
intersection of Route
72 and Marsha
Drive in Stafford Township
to alleviate seasonal
traffic delays; and

Intersection
improvements in Ship
Bottom, designed
to improve traffic flow
for both north/south
traffic on Long Beach
Island and along 8th
and 9th Streets, and
drainage improvements
to improve access during
heavy rainfalls and high
tide events.

The
existing Manahawkin
Bay Bridge is on the
left
and
the proposed twin bridges are
on the right.

The project has
avoided environmental impacts
to the maximum extent practicable,
however, some mitigation
will still be required.
A mitigation plan will
be developed in coordination
with regulatory agencies
during the permitting phase
of the project. The New
Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) will also look
for ways to improve public
access to the waterfront,
including areas for fishing
and crabbing. The "String
of Pearls" lighting
formerly seen on the existing
Manahawkin Bay Bridge at
night will be replicated
on the outside of both
the existing and new Manahawkin
Bay Bridges using current
technology to improve reliability,
but these lights will not
be visible from the roadway.
Highway lighting poles
utilizing Light Emitting
Diode (LED) technology
will be provided to light the
roadway.